Systems and methods for analysis of agricultural products

Abstract

The present invention relates to systems and methods for the nucleic acid based analysis of agricultural products. In particular, the present invention relates to the determination of wheat grades using nucleic acid analysis. The present invention further provides a lateral flow strip apparatus for use in nucleic acid detection assays. The present invention thus provides improved methods of grading commercially important grains (e.g., wheat).

We claim:  
     
         1 . A method of determining the grade of a wheat sample, comprising: 
 a) providing 
 i) a wheat sample;  
 ii) detection assay components suitable for the detection of three or more properties of said wheat sample; and  
   b) performing a detection assay with said detection assay components and said wheat sample.    
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said detection assay components are suitable for the detection of 5 or more properties of said wheat sample.  
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said detection assay components are suitable for the detection of 10 or more properties of said wheat sample.  
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said detection assay components are suitable for the detection of 15 or more properties of said wheat sample.  
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising the step of determining the grade of said wheat sample based on the results of said detection assay.  
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said three or more properties are selected from the group consisting of presence of contaminating organisms, presence of contaminating wheat, presence of contaminating plants, presence of contaminating seeds, and presence of genetically modified organisms.  
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein said contaminating wheat is a different variety of wheat than said wheat sample.  
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein said contaminating organisms are selected from the group consisting of micro organisms and macro organisms.  
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein said micro organisms are selected from the group consisting of ergot, sclerotinia, fusarium, smut, mildew, streak mold, and smudge.  
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein said macro organisms are selected from the group consisting of grasshopper, sawfly, midge, and army worm.  
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein said contaminating plants are selected from the group consisting of grass, rye, barley, tritcale, oats, oat groats, and wild oat groats.  
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein said contaminating seeds are selected from the group consisting of ragweed, tartary buckwheat, rye grass, and wild oats.  
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said detection assay is selected from the group consisting of a sequencing assay, a polymerase chain reaction assay, a hybridization assay, a microarray assay, a bead array assay, a primer extension assay, an enzyme mismatch cleavage assay, a branched hybridization assay, a rolling circle replication assay, a NASBA assay, a molecular beacon assay, a cycling probe assay, a ligase chain reaction assay, and a sandwich hybridization assay.  
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said assay is performed using a lateral flow strip.  
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein said hybridization assay is an INVADER assay.  
     
     
         16 . A method of detecting contaminating wheat in a wheat sample, comprising: 
 a) providing 
 i) a wheat sample suspected of containing contaminating wheat;  
 ii) detection assay components suitable for the detection of one or more types of contaminating wheat is said sample, wherein said contaminating wheat is a different variety of wheat than said wheat sample; and  
   b) performing a detection assay with said detection assay components and said wheat sample.    
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein said detection assay components are suitable for the detection of 3 or more types of contaminating wheat is said sample.  
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein said detection assay components are suitable for the detection of 5 or more types of contaminating wheat is said sample.  
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 16 , further comprising the step of determining the number and identity of said contaminating wheat present in said wheat sample.  
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , further comprising the step of determining the grade of said wheat sample based on the results of said detection assay.  
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising the step of detecting three or more properties of said wheat sample, wherein said three or more properties are selected from the group consisting of presence of contaminating organisms, presence of contaminating plants, presence of contaminating seeds, and presence of genetically modified organisms.  
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein said contaminating organisms are selected from the group consisting of micro organisms and macro organisms.  
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 22 , wherein said micro organisms are selected from the group consisting of ergot, sclerotinia, fusarium, smut, mildew, streak mold, and smudge.  
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 22 , wherein said macro organisms are selected from the group consisting of grasshopper, sawfly, midge, and army worm.  
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein said contaminating plants are selected from the group consisting of grass, rye, barley, tritcale, oats, oat groats, and wild oat groats.  
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein said contaminating seeds are selected from the group consisting of ragweed, tartary buckwheat, rye grass, and wild oats.  
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein said detection assay is selected from the group consisiting of a sequencing assay, a polymerase chain reaction assay, a hybridization assay, a microarray assay, a bead array assay, a primer extension assay, an enzyme mismatch cleavage assay, a branched hybridization assay, a rolling circle replication assay, a NASBA assay, a molecular beacon assay, a cycling probe assay, a ligase chain reaction assay, and a sandwich hybridization assay.  
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein said assay is performed using a lateral flow strip.  
     
     
         29 . A system for the grading of wheat, comprising: 
 a) a detection assay component configured for the generation of nucleic acid information for three or more properties of a wheat sample; and    b) an information distribution component configured for the distribution of said nucleic acid information.    
     
     
         30 . The system of  claim 29 , wherein said three or more properties are selected from the group consisting of presence of contaminating organisms, presence of contaminating wheat, presence of contaminating plants, presence of contaminating seeds, and presence of genetically modified organisms.  
     
     
         31 . The system of  claim 30 , wherein said contaminating wheat is a different variety of wheat than said wheat sample.  
     
     
         32 . The system of  claim 30 , wherein said contaminating organisms are selected from the group consisting of micro organisms and macro organisms.  
     
     
         33 . The system of  claim 32 , wherein said micro organisms are selected from the group consisting of ergot, sclerotinia, fusarium, sumt, mildew, streak mold, and smudge.  
     
     
         34 . The system of  claim 32 , wherein said macro organisms are selected from the group consisting of grasshopper, sawfly, midge, and army worm.  
     
     
         35 . The system of  claim 30 , wherein said contaminating plants are selected from the group consisting of grass, rye, barley, tritcale, oats, oat groats, and wild oat groats.  
     
     
         36 . The system of  claim 30 , wherein said contaminating seeds are selected from the group consisting of ragweed, tartary buckwheat, rye grass, and wild oats.  
     
     
         37 . The system of  claim 29 , wherein said detection assay component comprises reagent for performing a detection assay selected from the group consisting of a sequencing assay, a polymerase chain reaction assay, a hybridization assay, a microarray assay, a bead array assay, a primer extension assay, an enzyme mismatch cleavage assay, a branched hybridization assay, a rolling circle replication assay, a NASBA assay, a molecular beacon assay, a cycling probe assay, a ligase chain reaction assay, and a sandwich hybridization assay.  
     
     
         38 . The system of  claim 29 , wherein said detection assay component is a lateral flow strip.  
     
     
         39 . The system of  claim 29 , wherein said an information distribution component comprises a computer system, said computer system comprising a computer processor and computer memory.  
     
     
         40 . The system of  claim 39 , wherein said computer processor and computer memory are in communication with the Internet.  
     
     
         41 . The system of  claim 39 , wherein said computer system is in possession of a farmer.  
     
     
         42 . The system of  claim 39 , wherein said computer system is in possession of a distributor.  
     
     
         43 . The system of  claim 39 , wherein said computer system is in possession of a customer.